The Chisago County sheriff's office confirmed late Friday, May 10, that the 27-year-old Oakdale woman's body was recovered from a Chisago Lake Township swamp earlier in the day.

An autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death is planned.

The swamp where Jelinek's body was found sits about two blocks from the home of Aaron Schnagl, with whom Jelinek had an on-again, off-again relationship. She spent Dec. 8 at Schnagl's home and was reported missing by her family on Dec. 9.

At the time of her disappearance, Jelinek was 27 and lived with her sister in Oakdale.

A winter storm dropped more than a foot of snow in the area the day Jelinek was reported missing, making searches difficult.

Investigators met Thursday to discuss next steps, following an unsuccessful search of other local waters last weekend. They decided to enlist the help of a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter.

Officers took the chopper up Friday afternoon and spotted what appeared to be a body in the water about 3 p.m., Chisago County Sheriff Rick Duncan said.

The swamp sits behind homes in the area of 261st Street and Kodiak Avenue and is within sight of the house Schnagl rented on 261st Street. The swamp had been previously searched, but snow and ice kept much hidden, Duncan said.

The body was pulled from the shallow water after 7 p.m. Jelinek's family arrived a short time later and were ushered into a law enforcement trailer to talk with the sheriff.

Duncan said the family was there because he had promised to let them know when investigators found anything. They were not there to identify the body, he said.

The family did not make a statement.

But Duncan, suspecting that Jelinek's body had been recovered, said he was both sad and elated.

"I'm hoping it's her so we can finally have closure for the family," he said before the Chisago County medical examiner's office officially determined the body was Jelinek's.

Investigators carry a stretcher after a body was found in a small body of water in Chisago Township, off 261st Street and Kodiak Avenue, on Friday May 10, 2013. (Pioneer Press: Jean Pieri)

Schnagl has been considered a person of interest in the case but has not been charged with a crime.

A series of search warrants issued the day after Jelinek disappeared revealed trace evidence of blood in Schnagl's home. They also include allegations by a family member of Jelinek's that Schnagl physically abused her, though she never reported it.

According to the search warrants, Schnagl told officers he spent that Saturday evening with Jelinek, and they went back to his home, had numerous drinks and went to bed. But when he woke up at 9:30 a.m. she was gone, Schnagl told investigators.

Danielle Jelinek's father, Ed Jelinek, second from left, watches as Chisago County Sheriff Rick Duncan, center, point to the swamp where a body believed to be that of Danielle Jelinek was found Friday May 10, 2013 in Chisago Township. (Pioneer Press: Jean Pieri)